Presidential Documents Research Guide

Table of Contents

This guide focuses on the most important Presidential documents for legal research: Executive Orders and proclamations.

Introduction

Presidential documents include Executive Orders and proclamations, as well as other documents such as determinations, letters, memorandums, and reorganization plans. This guide focuses on the most important Presidential documents for legal research: Executive Orders and proclamations. This guide describes these materials and where to find them in print, on the web, Lexis, Westlaw, and microfiche.

A major repository of presidential documents has been created by the University of California, Santa Barbara. The American Presidency Project includes State of the Union addresses, presidential commencement speeches, as well as addresses to Foreign governments and the United Nations.

Compilation of Presidential Documents: FDSys makes the Compilation of Presidential Documents available from 1993 until present. Using the Advanced Search feature on FDSys, researchers can search the Compilation of Presidential Documents by keyword or date. The Weekly Compilation of Presidential Documents (1965-2009) is available on HeinOnline and updated by the Daily Compilation of Presidential Documents.

Public Papers of the President. One very convenient source for Presidential public messages, speeches, and statements is the Public Papers of the Presidents of the United States series (J80 .A283). This series is published by the National Archives and Records. Dates of coverage for the print series are: 1929-1933 and 1945‹2004. The Public Papers set is the cumulation of the Weekly Compilations of Presidential Compilations.

Additionally, HeinOnline, now includes the Public Papers of the Presidents of the United States in its U.S. Presidential Library.

President

Years

Print/Internet/Hein

Hoover

1929-1933

Print & HeinOnline

Franklin D. Roosevelt

1933-1945

HeinOnline

Truman

1945-1953

Print & HeinOnline

Eisenhower

1953-1961

Print & HeinOnline

Kennedy

1961-1963

Print & HeinOnline

Johnson

1963-1969

Print & HeinOnline

Nixon

1969-1974

Print & HeinOnline

Ford

1974-1977

Print & HeinOnline

Carter

1977-1981

Print & HeinOnline

Reagan

1981-1989

Print & HeinOnline

Bush

1989-1993

Print & HeinOnline(1989-1991)
Print, Internet & HeinOnline(1992-1993)

Clinton

1993-2001

Print, Internet & HeinOnline

Bush

2001 - 2008

Print, Internet & HeinOnline

Obama

2009 -

Lexis has a database Public Papers of the Presidents of the United States (Browse Sources > Public Papers of the President). Coverage begins with 2007.

Compilation of the Messages and Papers of the Presidents, 1789-1897. This 10 volume set contains documents from George Washington through William McKinley. It is available in print, on ProQuest Congressional and on HeinOnline.

For assistance in locating these or other resources, please ask a librarian for help.

Executive Orders

Executive Orders are official documents that the President issues to manage the operations of the federal government. The text of an Executive Order first appears in the Federal Register. Beginning with Executive Order 7316 of March 13, 1936, the text also appears in the annual edition of Title 3 of the Code of Federal Regulations (CFR). Executive Orders are also available on the web, Lexis, Westlaw, and in a comprehensive microfiche set from CIS.

Executive Orders are codified in the Codification of Presidential Proclamations and Executive Orders. Unfortunately, this codification has not been updated since 1989. The current status of any Executive Order issued since April 13, 1945 can be found easily by using the disposition tables on the web.

Presidential Proclamations

Presidential proclamations are announcements of policy from the President. The vast majority of proclamations are issued to announce and support a ceremonial event, such as National African American History Month or National Hurricane Awareness Week. There are, however, some substantive proclamations that deal with tariff or other trade issues that are important for research purposes.

All proclamations are first published in the Federal Register. They are compiled annually in Title 3 of the Code of Federal Regulations. The Weekly Compilation of Presidential Documents and United States Code Congressional and Administrative News also publish presidential proclamations.

Substantive proclamations are codified in the Codification of Presidential Proclamations and Executive Orders. Unfortunately, this codification has not been updated since 1989. The status of presidential proclamations as of January 20, 1989 can be found by using the disposition tables of the Codification either on the web or in print. To update after 1989, use the tables in Title 3 of the CFR and the monthly lists in the Federal Register.

If you have any further questions about finding or using any of the materials described in this guide, come to the Reference Desk. A reference librarian will be able to assist you with identifying and locating the materials you need for your research projects.